Hours cut at border crossings

Evening hours of operation at three ports of entry will be reduced later this month, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) revealed this week.

Tolstoi, Piney, and South Junction border crossings are affected by the service cuts, which take effect Nov. 26.

Tolstoi, a port offering bilingual service daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., will close at 8 p.m. from Victoria Day through Labour Day, and 6 p.m. the rest of the year, Lisa White, CBSA’s assistant director of communications, said Monday via email.

Piney, currently open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., will close at 5 p.m. year-round.

South Junction, currently open from 8 a.m. to midnight each day, will close at 8 p.m. year-round.

He encouraged constituents to attend public meetings slated for Nov. 14 at the Piney Community Centre, and Nov. 15 at the Tolstoi Ukrainian National Hall. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m.

Falk said the three affected ports "still play a vital role in travel to and from the United States for thousands of residents in southeastern Manitoba," and noted area residents with jobs in Minnesota will be inconvenienced daily by the service reductions.

"A large number of these people work evenings," he noted.

Falk also questioned the impact the cuts will have on RM of Piney residents seeking medical care in Roseau under a unique cross-border health care agreement, and the implications for STARS air ambulance, which uses Piney’s airport.